Dozens Sickened by Carbon Monoxide at Georgia School

Last week, almost 50 children and adults were sent to area hospitals when an elementary school near Atlanta experienced high levels of carbon monoxide (CO). Another 500 people were forced to evacuate the school building.

Emergency responders to the incident found high levels of carbon monoxide near a school furnace. Reports indicate that the furnace’s boiler, where the leak is suspected to have occurred, was inspected last year, but was not due for another inspection until 2013. Georgia, like most states, does not require CO detectors in schools.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death. It is found in combustion fumes. When an indoor combustion source, like a furnace or boiler is not working properly, CO can build up in an enclosed or semi-enclosed space.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Unintentional CO exposure accounts for an estimated 15,000 emergency department visits and 500 unintentional deaths in the United States each year.” One company that has been at the forefront of helping people identify dangerous carbon monoxide levels in buildings is IAQ Index. The company has developed a series of easy to use test kits that identify CO and a host of other potential indoor air quality (IAQ) contaminants.

“Common symptoms of CO poisoning include headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion,” reported Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index. “High levels of CO can cause a loss of consciousness and death. Many times, unless carbon monoxide is suspected, CO poisoning can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms often mimic other illnesses. IAQ Index’s test kits offer a simple solution to test an indoor environment for carbon monoxide and other potential airborne hazards.”

About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues. IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys. The approach is similar to the EPA’s Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.